Ten infrastructure projects in Bengaluru, which were pending for several years due to issues over acquisition of defence land, will now take off without further delay. The Defence Ministry has agreed to hand over land to the authorities concerned for the projects in exchange for land of equal value elsewhere.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman announced the decision after meeting Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and top officials from the armed forces and the State government in Bengaluru. “I have directed officials not to wait till the State government hands over land of equal value in exchange for defence land. As the projects have been pending for years, the land will be transferred without any delay for the benefit of the people,” she said.
“The chief minister met me in New Delhi on July 18 and requested transfer of land to complete the pending infrastructure projects,” she said.
While around 45,165.84 square metres, valued at ₹282.09 crore, will be transferred in case of eight projects against land of equal value by the State government, permission to use land for two Railway Over Bridge (ROB) projects will be granted on licence basis.
The chief minister thanked the defence minister and affirmed the commitment of the State government to provide land of equal value as per Ministry of Defence guidelines.
According to a joint declaration by the defence minister and the chief minister, the State government has agreed to transfer 209.8 acres, worth ₹488 crore, in and around Bengaluru in three locations.
The State government and defence ministry will constitute a joint task force to resolve all outstanding issues amicably and expeditiously, the declaration stated.
Private properties
Senior BBMP officials said that of the 10 projects only two require the acquisition of private properties too: the road connecting Ejipura Inner Ring Road to Sarjapura Main Road, and the widening of Lower Agaram Road from Hosmat Hospital to IST Main Road, Viveknagar.
"But, requirement of private properties is minimal and will be done soon, after which work will be taken up," an official said.
The official said that work on the remaining eight projects will begin immediately.